Z. Ying Li, Ph.D., a partner in Steptoe's New York office, counsels biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients on patent portfolio management and strategic development. She has extensive experience in patent prosecution worldwide. Dr. Li helps clients survey competitive patent landscapes and renders opinions of counsel on freedom to operate, non-infringement, and patent invalidity. She also conducts IP due diligence for venture capital investment and corporate business development.

Dr. Li has worked on a wide range of therapeutic areas including cancer and immune disorders, with particular experience in biologics such as antibody therapeutics, as well as molecular diagnostics and vaccines. She assists clients with pre-litigation strategy counseling and freedom to operate analyses concerning application of the Biologics Act to biotherapeutic development programs.

Dr. Li also has extensive experience in contentious matters before US and foreign patent offices, and has represented clients in matters related to transgenic animals and immune molecules. She successfully argued for an interference appellee before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a case of first impression related to conception of recombinant DNA.

During her doctoral research, Dr. Li discovered a novel gene involved in DNA double-stranded break repair and antibody gene rearrangement.